Q: I’ve been a person whose word doesn’t really mean much to the people most important to me… my kids and my spouse. I want to change that about myself. How do I get them to trust and believe in me again before it’s too late?

-Dannette H.

A: Hi Dannette,

I have to be honest, I just wanted to throw my arms around you and give you a big hug after reading your email. I am always impressed and moved by people who can identify a problem, own it and then take action to correct it. The fact that you have already done those three things tells me it is definitely NOT too late! I’m also willing to bet there are a lot of others reading this who can identify with you today. In a nutshell, the way to be a person of your word is to be a person of your word. It will take time for those around you to become believers, but if you are consistent and your intent is heartfelt, you can absolutely change the perceptions of those around you over time. If it were me in your situation, I think I would do two things.

First, I think I would show the email you sent me to the important people in your life. I would then tell them how sorry you are for not being a person of your word in the past but that you are truly ready to change now. I would then make a commitment to some short-term counseling and talk this all out with a trained listener. That will help you speed the process along, gain a deeper understanding of the issue and show those around you that you mean business. If you are serious about this undertaking and truly invested in creating trust again, these are two very important steps you can take immediately. If you take my advice, people will eventually come around and become believers. You have my word on that!